davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

fishing, salmon canning, smuggling Chi
namen into the United States, carrying
passengers about in their boats and doing
odd jobs as well as many steady ones
Many of the Siwash are Christianized
and support very creditable mission
chapels, and finally one of the prettiest
and most tastefully dressed and most
ladylike of the passengers on the train
that took me to Vancouver was Siwash
maiden.
The most curious thing about the ST.
wash is their habit of "pot-latching"
their money away after it has taken
lifetime of work and self-denial to get it
or after it has been suddenly and luckily
gotten at the end of long endured poY-
erty, as happened not long ago when one
poor devil sold piece of land for hand
some sum. The "pot-latch," as they call
it, is festival celebrated when man of
the tribe has got large sum of money
and wants to throw it all away. Five
thousand dollars is the usual figure which,
once attained in dollars, fits man for in
wiling his friends to ''pot-latch." Be
fore doing so he builds large house,
plainly, in the form of a shed; stocks
it we'll with liquor, snowy calico and
cloths and blankets, with nice and useful
little knick-knacks like pocket knives
and pipes and ribbons, or whatever he
knows the Siwash are fond of. The day
set having arrived all the Siwash for
miles around come to the big new house
and eat, drink and divide the spoils.
When they have gone and the pot-latch
is over, which may not be until the close
of second day, the man who gave the
feast is almost as poor as the day he was
born. He has nothing except his roof
and the clothes on his back. All ! but he
is richer than ever in another way. He
is ennobled by his own generosity and
takes high rank above his fellows. He
is apt to work on just as he did before
need not do anything. His tribe has be-
come proud of him and will see that he
never wants.
The Tsimsheans of the more northerly
coast, including that of Alaska, and the
once fierce Hydahs of the islands off the
coast, all celebrate the pot-latch, and
was very much surprised to find when
got to Tacoma, in Washington Territory,
that the Indians there also indulge in the
custom, though many of them, if mis-
take not, are Flatheads. 1t was while |
was in Tacoma, by the way, that very
e..fted and observant little lady, of New
England descent, who has had much to
do with the Chinese as house servants
and peddlers, told me that the language in
which the best conversational progress
can be made with Chinaman is the "Chi-
nook" or pigeon Indian, with which the
traders talk to the Indians. They under
stand the Indian words far better than
the English ones. To say the least, these
are Very queer condolences that | men,
tion. Here we find that the Indians
nearest to China look like Chinese, use
the same boats the Chinese use, and talk
language which the Chinaman family
understands. JULIAN RALPH.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

them so deeply, or was so anxious to be-
come the highest authority concerning
them. If he had said that he went to China
to look for the origin of the red man l
would not write what am now going to,
but he did not
Across narrow little channel of water
beside the city of Victoria, on Vancou-
ver's island, is what is called Siwash
reservation. Siwash is the T'linket
name for man, just as "Klootchman"
is the Tlinket name for a woman, but
the whites all call the Indians "Siwash,"
so l will do the same. A few stout
sweeps of an oar will bring a whole
family from the reserve into the docks
of Victoria, and the consequence is that
one meets very many Indians in the
streets of that city on every day of the
wear. They are not clothed like the red
men of the plains, in blankets, feathers,
moccasins and separated trouser-legs,
but dress like white men, with very much
such rude choice of clothes and awk-
ward appearance in them as the average
Chinaman presents in our cities. Vic
toria is also the seat of a large Chinese
colony. About 5000 Cinnamon live in
the town, and maintain large stores,
theatre and Joss house there. AS many
more from the country around come there
whenever they have any shopping or
loating to do. Therefore the forms and
faces of Cinnamon are familiar sights in
those streets. The similarity of the faces
of some of the Siwash to certain types of
Chinese faces struck me forcibly again
during my stay in Victoria. Again and
again l said to my friend, "Does not that
Indian look like Chinaman ?" knew
the man was an Indian either because he
was with other Indians or because he
was in hut on the reservation or be-
cause | inquired about him, as the case
might be. l saw no Siwash girl or
woman who looked like China woman,
but on the reservation l saw some babies
that were startingly like Monaghan
babes. AS rule these Siwash did not
look like their brothers, the Indians of
the plains. They were short-legged,
long-bodied, -shouldered and mar
row-hipped fellows with f1atter faces.
They were less savage-looking than our
Indians, and they were stupider-looking.
In short, if you could imagine the Indians
of the plains doomed for centuries to
eating fish and rowing boats until they
were extraordinarily muscular above the
waist and excessively weak and small in
the legs, you would get an idea of the
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24
INTERESTING BEAVER COLONIES.
Some Facts Concerning the Manner I'm
Which They Work.

Some Facts Concerning the Manner I'm
Which They Work.
Two beaver colonies have, says Nature,
just been discovered at Amid, near Christian
sand, Norway. On the banks of a river the
beavers have made lodges of branches of
trees, which are held together with clayey
mud, the whole resting on logs of wood. The
entrance, hole, faces the river but is below
the surface of the water. Round the en-
trance there are a number of aspen and birch
trees, the bark of which serves as food for the
animals. The beaver gnaws the tree about
two feet from the ground, and, if it finds the
bark to its taste, cuts the tree up in pieces from
two to three feet in length which the animal
then drags or carries down to its house-pro-
ceedings which are fully demonstrated by the
many "log-runs' in the woods along the
river bank. Observers have also noticed
another remarkable habit of this interesting
animal-namely, that on arriving at the
waterside with such a log of wood it will poise
the piece on the back of its neck and swim
with it right into the lodge where the bark
is gnawed off and stored away for summer
use. This accomplished, it will shoot the log
into the river. The largest trees the animals
have dealt with in this manner are eleven
inches in diameter. The colonies are situated
far from human dwellings, where people
come in winter during the Undertaking
season,
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24
A BLACK CAT COSTUME.
The Butchery of Birds Not Enough to Sat-
isfy the Rapacity of Fashion.

The Butchery of Birds Not Enough to Sat-
isfy the Rapacity of Fashion.
The London Pail Mall Gazette says When
last season young debutante appeared at a
fashionable dance in dress trimmed with
flight of stuffed canaries, and another lady
fitted about with parrots heads glazing at
the beholders from all parts of her gorgeous
costume, it was thought that the fashion
could not go much further in its use of the
dumb creation" The summit, however,
was not yet reached, as the following item
of news from Paris plainly shows: IA IA
vorite dress at fancy-dress balls this winter
will undoubtedly be the black cat
costume low necked and sleeve
less corsage and tunic in gold-yellow satin,
cut in one, in the princess style. The latter
is looped under short underskirt in black
velvet, and is bordered with a row of little
figures of the Napoleon cut out of black vel
vet. On the left side of the corsage is placed
a large stuffed black cat, the tail curving over
the wearer's shoulder, while the outstretched
forelegs of the animal claw up one side of the
overskirt. Long black gloves reaching above
the elbow, gold-yellow silk stockings, and
black satin slippers complete the toilet. 1t
is bad enough to butcher the birds of the air
in the service of fashion, but there is at least
some beauty in brilliant and gracefully ar
ranged feathers, while the large black cat
calls forth nothing but thoughts of CHASTITY
tales OF witches and sorcerers.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

have discovered the origin of the
American Indian after mere flying trip
across the continent and day or two
with the Indians during halts here and
there on the journey. Most persons have
never troubled themselves about the mat
ter at all, and if asked where the Indians
came from would say they didn't know;
they were found here and possibly they
always were here. But they must have
come from somewhere, whether the Bib
lical account of the creation of a man
and woman in Western Asia or the Oar
winian theory of the development of man
from the monkeys of the tropics is true.
How did Adams children get to America,
or, if you prefer to think yourself the
offspring of monkeys, how did the
monkey man of Darwin get here-if he
was first developed in the old world; or
how did he get there-if he was first
produced here? The favorite theory
about the Indian is that he came to this
continent by way of Behring's strait
from Asia, either at time when
the strait was frozen over or when
there was no strait; or that boat-load
out fishing on the Asiatic coast blew
over in gale one day, and, not being
able to get back, resolved to stop where
they were and people the continent" so
as not to be lonely in their new home. I
picked up George Catlin's book about the
Indians the other day, and, to my sur
prise, found that he repudiated this
theory. Not only that, but he says that
he actually spent considerable time
among the people of the Eastern coast of
Asia and of the Aleutian Islands, study
ing the customs, languages, and other
distinctive characteristics of those peo-
Piles on purpose to prove or disprove
this theory. In his mind he disproved
it-a fact that should be considered of
very great weight, for no man who ever
wrote on the subject knew so much as
.Catlin did about our aborigines, loved
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

we had gathered up our jugs and roved
back to the landing, had not only &C
quired a new ccomplishment-that of
being good "jugger for cats'-but had
in addition got good ducking and such
an appetite for breakfast as had not en-
joyed for months. The darkies are ex-
ceedingly fond of these great Shiny
waterhogs of the Western waters, which
are said to be excellent eating; but I'M
fortunately for me the first tasted was
underdone and crouched as I bit it, l
have never tried any since. The Mis-
sissippi catfish is not handsome beast.
A schoolboy's description of one is terse
and true. He described it as "a great
big blackery, gallery, Shiny mouth, with
little fish's tail at the end of it," do
not know how heavy they will grow, but
have seen specimens that would weigh
100 pounds and over.
HARRY BEARD.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

manners and methods prescribed for
that sort of amusement by the
United States army regulations) at
Vidalia, La, sort of along-the-road
court. house settlement, Immediately
opposite Natchez, Miss, on the Missis-
sippi river. One morning I found
myself up, dressed and off duty before
sunrise, wondering what to do in the
long stretch of time until breakfast.
The hooking birds and the sliding river
seemed about the only things, besides my
self, that were moving, until 1 heard war
bling, thrilling whistle. Everybody knew
that whistle. There was but one whis-
tier like that in Concordia parish, and
that was not hooking bird, but "Zeb,"
the LATEST, most trifling, worthless, good
natured darby in the district. My curl
osity was Immediately excited to know
what could possibly have aroused his
lazy bones at such an early hour, so
when he made his appearance coming
up the road, carrying three good-sized
stone jugs in each hand, hailed him:
"Hey! Zeb! here where are you
going? Come here"
Then whisting stopped and Zeb came
shutting up very slowly, evidently fear
full that had something for him to do,
and as evidently working his brain to the
extent of its limit in search of some ex-
cuse or fabrication to avoid doing it.
When in answer to my questions he said
he was "gwine Juggling fob CATS" 1 was
considerably mystified, but when asked
him if he expected me to believe that he
could voodoo any cats into those jugs,
the way that trifiing darby laughed
would have made the fortune of any
negro minstrel on the stage.
"De Lor' Dress you, Marsa Capten what
you s'pose dis yerZ eb know about voodoo
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

piece being so manipulated with raw
cotton and thread, or string, as to hold
it on the hook, and with these each hook
was carefully baited.
After we had our fish-lines, with their
bulky corks, carefully stored in skiff,
and Zeb had borrowed an extra pair of
oars without disturbing their owners
morning nap), we embarked and rowed
out in the channel. AS pulled as
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24
Getting in Sympathy.

Geographic communication will shortly
begin between Russia and France. All dis
patches at present come through Germany,
and have recently been tempered with at
Berlin. Russia, in the case of war between
Germany and Austria, would be entirely cut
off from Geographic communication with
the remainder of Europe
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

"What can you tell me about Esau ?'
queried the pedagogue. "Esau," responded
the youth, with the glib alacrity of one who
feels himself, for once, on safe ground, "Esau
was writer of fables, who sold his copy
right for bottle of potash. "-Erchange.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

faced Puritans. The Indians brought deer
from the woods, and the palefaces supplied
fish, clans and corn. Ten years later, when
the last batch of bread in the colony was in
Governor Bradford's oven and starvation
was staring New England's ancestors in the
face, good ship from Ireland appeared with
provisions, and the dav appointed for fasting
was changed into day Of Thanksgiving
Exchange.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24
Origin of a Popular Holiday.

1t is only about 256 years ago that the
first Thanksgiving Day was observed in
this country. Old Massasoit and his ninety
braves sat down to dinner with the long
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

would re-
q u i r e a
great deal
more asSur-
ance than
even tn e
a v e r a 6 e
newspaper
m a n pc s.
sesses for
me to pre-
{ EN- d { O
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24


- other day with friend
- in an open carriage.
= Both of US were strang-
ers in the city and were
going about the town
driving ourselves rather
than go poking along in one of the num-
erous but dirty cabs The horses were
passing leisurely along one of the main
streets and we were gazing at the Ger
man girls as they passed us. Suddenly
there appeared before us a man in uni
form. He stood in the middle of the
street and blew dog whistle" which
first attracted our attention. Then he
drew from under his arm red flag and
frantically waved it in the air. My friend
pulled in his horses and they came to
halt. We then noticed car-tracks on the
streets running at right angles to the one
were on, and to thought at once that
we had come to a railroad crossing, and
that the authorities were most consid-
crate in warning people of their danger;
though we also thought it rather strange
for a railroad train to run at grade
through the centre of the city. We
waited at least one minute and heard no
whistle or indication of the approach of
a train, and would have moved on but
for the official and his red flag. There
we stood, waiting with anxiety for the
train to dash past US, not knowing how
the strange horses would take to an en-
CINE at full speed, with train Of cars
behind it. Finally, when we had about
lost all patience and wondered why the
man did not let us go on, we heard some
thing coming, and then the jingle Of
bells, and at last little one-horse street
car logged around the corner, across the
street and went its way up the. thorough
fare
l looked with establishment at my
friend and he looked at me. Then we
burst out laughing, for the whole thing
was very ridiculous. Flagging US for
a street car to pass!
There we had waited long enough to
cross the tracks half dozen times before
the car came, yet we had to wait. Since
that drive have seen several such men
and flags, all tagging carriages to let the
street cars pass, and every time see them
laugh.
The drugstores have a curious way
here of shutting up just about the time
you want them. AS soon as ii begins to
grow dark, down come the iron shutters,
and if you need anything you go to
little bell handle outside one Of the
iron shutters and ring it. Then you hear
some one at a crank inside, the massive
frame rolls up and head looks out the
window. Finally the man or boy inside
opens part of the window and you talk
through pane of glass and make known
your wants. Instead of being angry at
being aroused, the man begs your pardon
for keeping you outside and says, II
thank YOU for your order"
How different from druggists in Amer
ical l remember once woke one up in
the States and he came down stairs with
shotgun after me. But, as remarked
before, they have curious ways of doing
things in Dresden. Copyrighted
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24
THE POT-LATCHERS.
A CURIOUS INDIAN TRIBE ON THE
sIwASH RESERVATION.

Monaghan characteristics Of the People
Boats that Resemble Those of the Chinese
The Pot-latch Festival in Which Their
Hard Earnings are Thrown Away.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24
DRESDEN HABITS.
SOME PECULIAR CUSTOMS IN USE
OVER THERE.

No Laughter or Noise After Certain Hours.
No Piano Playing in Private Houses.
Strict Police Regulations-Flaggin q
Carriage for stEsetscar-other Things.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

A pretty little child smilingly asked her
mother why fish are so full of splinters.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

Sixty miles OF blazes in Arkansas Helen
ought to be satisfied now.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

Items of Interest About Persons of Note
in the World.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24
Outgoing FOR CATS"
THE GREAT SPORT ALONG THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

How an Army Oficer Was Introduced to
This Way Of Fishing-The LATEST Negro
I'm the Region His Tuter-An Early
Morning Ducking and the Catch.
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

The Dresden people have strange
ways and habits. Perhaps they would
think American customs are strange
if they came to the States. l dare say
they would, but still l feel like telling
some tales about Dresden habits which
may be interesting to you. The police
regulations here are exceedingly strict,
and one has to be on his p's and as at all
times or he may get into trouble. The
other night several American ladies who
are living here happened to be in their
private parlor, which was on the ground
floor of the house, and in discussing the
adventures of the day related some
amusing incidents, whereupon the others
laughed, not loudly but merrily. Almost
instantly the bell rang and a police officer
stood at the door and informed the
ladies that, unless the noise ceased at
once, he would arrest them. Alas the
poor young ladies had to retire and with.
hold their tales of adventure until day
light.
No one can play the piano in pri-
vate house after 1890 o'clock at night,
and 1t is a great offense to throw any
thing out of the window. In fact, you
are not allowed to hang anything, either,
from that portal, for the authorities fear
1t will drop on some ones head and cause
damage Some friends of mine had q
rather disagreeable experience in this
way the other night. 1t was very warm
and the ladies decided to leave their
windows open. Their rooms are on the
ground floor. One of them happened to
leave a small napkin on the window-sill
mot out the window. 1t had been wet
and she wished to dry it in the air. About
midnight the lady heard some one at the
window. Looking out, she saw a man
using his cane as if to open the window
further.
The lady got up and went toward the
man and asked him what he wanted. In
stead of answering, the intrude~ jumped
away and tried to hide himself by leaning
up against the side of the house. In short
time the man again began TO peer in at
the window and use his cane as if to hook
the end of it on the inside and pull him
self in. The lady called her son, but the
man went away when any one noticed
him and came back again when the coast
was clear. These maneuvres continued
until day break. Of course the lady told the
landlady the next morning, and soon after
police officer called to inform the latter
that her boarders were violating the law
by having things out their window. He
explained how one of the night watchmen
had spent the evening trying to poke in
the napkin from out the window, and find
ing that the occupants of the room spoke
English, he did not wish to brighten them
more, and so he did not answer when
they spoke; but unless they conformed
g.
-"-f
=z
Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1887-12-24

to the law they would
be fined.
l was riding out the
other day with a friend
in an open carriage.
Both of us were strang-
ers in the city and were
going about the town
driving ourselves rather
Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1887-03-08

that such people are entitled to vote un-
der the new law, and if any means
can be devised, which would be
sustained by the courts, to disfranchise
them, it most certainly should be
done. The best legal talent in
the Territory should be consulted and
some uniform course of action agreed
upon. We would suggest, if no other
organization takes the matter in hand,
that it be attended to by the Territorial
Democratic Committee. The Admins
tration and the Democratic members OF
Congress exerted their power to
furnish such legislation as would
place the local Government OF
Utah in loyal hands. 1t is the duty OF
the representatives of the party here to
make the best use of such legislation as
was given us, although it falls far short
of that favored by our Democratic breth-
rem in the East.